Method for integrating a mobile communication device and a portable electronic device and portable computer module thereof

ABSTRACT

A method for integrating a mobile communication device and a portable electronic device is disclosed. A protection cover and an electronic-device body of the portable electronic device are pivotally connected for containing the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device is removably and rotatably connected to the electronic-device body. The method includes detecting whether the mobile communication device is coupled to the electronic-device body by the mobile communication device, detecting whether the protection cover is open by the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device detects electrical connection of the mobile communication device to the electronic-device body, detecting whether the mobile communication device is rotated to a position parallel to a horizontal surface to generate a detection result by the mobile communication device when the protection cover is open, and switching the mobile communication device to a touch mode or an image capturing mode according to the detection result.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for integrating a mobilecommunication device and a portable electronic device and a portablecomputer module thereof, and more specifically, to a method of detectingrotation of a mobile communication device to switch the mobilecommunication device to a touch mode or an image capturing mode and aportable computer module thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With development of technology, a mobile communication device (e.g. asmart phone) has more and more powerful functions. However, limitationof a small screen of the mobile communication device may cause a usermuch inconvenience in operating the mobile communication device. Thus,the design in which a mobile communication device is integrated into aportable electronic device with a larger display screen has beendeveloped.

In general, a common integration design is to dispose a connectionsocket for installation of a mobile communication device on a portablecomputer device (e.g. a tablet computer). Accordingly, when the mobilecommunication device is installed on the connection socket to beelectrically connected to the portable computer device, the portablecomputer device displays an operation image of the mobile communicationdevice. In such a manner, a user may not only utilize a large displayscreen of the portable computer device to replace a small screen of themobile communication device for performing related operations of themobile communication device more conveniently, but may also utilize themobile communication device to make the portable computer device have amobile internet function.

Another common integration design is to utilize a portable docketstation without a processing function. The portable docket station mayinclude conventional peripheral components (not including a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit)), such as a display screen and a keyboard. When themobile communication device is installed on the portable docket station,the mobile communication device can provide a processing function toform a portable computer device cooperatively with the portable docketstation. Thus, the user can utilize a large display screen of theportable docket station to replace a small screen of the mobilecommunication device for performing related operations of the mobilecommunication device more conveniently.

However, as mentioned above, the major drawback of the aforesaidintegration designs is that functions (e.g. a touch function) of themobile communication device can not be performed synchronously when themobile communication device is integrated into the portable computerdevice or the portable docket station, so as to reduce the performanceof the mobile communication device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a method ofdetecting rotation of a mobile communication device to switch the mobilecommunication device to a touch mode or an image capturing mode and aportable computer module thereof for solving the aforesaid problem.

The present invention provides a method for integrating a mobilecommunication device and a portable electronic device. The portableelectronic device includes an electronic-device body and a protectioncover. The protection cover is pivotally connected to theelectronic-device body for containing the mobile communication devicecooperatively with the electronic-device body. The mobile communicationdevice is removably and rotatably connected to a side of theelectronic-device body. The method includes detecting whether the mobilecommunication device is electrically connected to the electronic-devicebody by the mobile communication device, detecting whether theprotection cover is open by the mobile communication device when themobile communication device detects electrical connection of the mobilecommunication device to the electronic-device body, detecting whetherthe mobile communication device is rotated to a position parallel to ahorizontal surface to generate a detection result by the mobilecommunication device when the mobile communication device detects thatthe protection cover is open, and switching the mobile communicationdevice to a touch mode or an image capturing mode according to thedetection result.

According to the claimed invention, switching the mobile communicationdevice to the touch mode or the image capturing mode according to thedetection result includes switching the mobile communication device tothe touch mode when the mobile communication device detects rotation ofthe mobile communication device to the position parallel to thehorizontal surface.

According to the claimed invention, switching the mobile communicationdevice to the touch mode or the image capturing mode according to thedetection result includes switching the mobile communication device tothe image capturing mode when the mobile communication device detectsrotation of the mobile communication device to the position unparallelto the horizontal surface.

According to the claimed invention, the method further includesdisplaying an operation image corresponding to the mobile communicationdevice by the electronic-device body when the mobile communicationdevice detects the electrical connection of the mobile communicationdevice to the electronic-device body and detects that the protectioncover is close for covering the mobile communication device in thecontaining space.

According to the claimed invention, the method further includesswitching the mobile communication device to a power saving mode whenthe mobile communication device detects that the protection cover isclose for covering the mobile communication device in the containingspace.

According to the claimed invention, the mobile communication device hasa display screen and the method further includes activating the displayscreen by the mobile communication device when the mobile communicationdevice detects that the protection cover is open.

The present invention further provides a portable computer module. Theportable computer module includes a portable electronic device and amobile communication device. The portable electronic device includes anelectronic-device body and a protection cover. The electronic-devicebody has a containing space. The protection cover is pivotally connectedto a first side of the containing space for covering the containingspace. The mobile communication device is selectively contained in thecontaining space. The mobile communication device includes acommunication-device body, a sensing unit, and an accelerometer. Thecommunication-device body is removably and pivotally connected to asecond side of the containing space for detecting whether thecommunication-device body is electrically connected to theelectronic-device body. The sensing unit is electrically connected toand disposed on the communication-device body for detecting whether theprotection cover is open when the communication-device body iselectrically connected to the electronic-device body. The accelerometeris electrically connected to and disposed on the communication-devicebody for detecting whether the communication-device body is rotated to aposition parallel to a horizontal surface relative to theelectronic-device body to generate a detection result when the sensingunit detects that the protection cover is open. The mobile communicationdevice switches to a touch mode or an image capturing mode according tothe detection result.

According to the claimed invention, the communication-device bodyswitches to the touch mode when the accelerometer detects that thecommunication-device body is parallel to the horizontal surface.

According to the claimed invention, the protection cover supports theelectronic-device body to stand obliquely at a side of thecommunication-device body when the communication-device body is parallelto the horizontal surface.

According to the claimed invention, the communication-device bodyswitches to the image capturing mode when the accelerometer detects thatthe communication-device body is unparallel to the horizontal surface.

According to the claimed invention, when the communication-device bodydetects that the communication-device body is electrically connected tothe electronic-device body and the sensing unit detects that theprotection cover is close for covering the communication-device body inthe containing space, the electronic-device body displays an operationimage corresponding to the communication-device body.

According to the claimed invention, when the sensing unit detects thatthe protection cover is close for covering the communication-device bodyin the containing space, the communication-device body switches to apower saving mode.

According to the claimed invention, the communication-device body has adisplay screen, and the communication-device body activates the displayscreen when the sensing unit detects that the protection cover is open.

According to the claimed invention, the portable electronic devicefurther includes a rotating shaft and a connection terminal. Therotating shaft is pivotally connected to the second side of thecontaining space. The connection terminal is disposed on the rotatingshaft and electrically connected to the electronic-device body forelectrically connecting to the communication-device body, so as to makethe communication-device body electrically connected to theelectronic-device body and rotatable relative to the electronic-devicebody via the rotating shaft.

According to the claimed invention, the portable electronic device is atablet computer, and the mobile communication device is a smart phone.

According to the claimed invention, the portable electronic device is aportable docket station, and the mobile communication device is a smartphone.

In summary, the present invention utilizes the design in which themobile communication device is pivotally connected to the portableelectronic device and the design in which the mobile communicationdevice detects whether to electrically connected to the portableelectronic device, whether the protection cover is open, and whether themobile communication device is parallel to the horizontal surface, tocontrol the mobile communication device to enter the touch mode or theimage capturing mode.

In such a manner, the mobile communication device provided by thepresent invention can be utilized as an input device when being parallelto the horizontal surface, so that the user can perform the relatedinput operations of the portable electronic device or the mobilecommunication device (e.g. performing a paperwork processing operationor a cursor controlling operation) via the touch function of the mobilecommunication device. On the other hand, the mobile communication devicecan be utilized as an image capturing device when being unparallel tothe horizontal surface, so that the user can simultaneously utilize theimage capturing function of the mobile communication device and thefunctions of the portable electronic device (e.g. a keyboard simulationfunction) to perform the video operation of the portable computer module(e.g. holding a video conference).

Thus, the portable computer module provided by the present invention canefficiently solve the problem that the functions (e.g. a touch functionor an image capturing function) of the mobile communication device cannot be performed synchronously when the mobile communication device isintegrated into the portable electronic device, so as to greatly improvethe overall performance and operational convenience of the portablecomputer module.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram of a portable computer module according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram of the portable computer module in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a mobile communication device inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of integrating a portable electronicdevice and the mobile communication device according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a protection cover in FIG. 2 supporting anelectronic-device body on a holding surface.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the communication-device body in FIG. 5 rotatingto a position unparallel to a horizontal surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram of aportable computer module 10 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram of the portable computer module10 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the portable computermodule 10 includes a portable electronic device 12 and a mobilecommunication device 14. In this embodiment, the portable electronicdevice 12 can be a tablet computer, and the mobile communication device14 can be a smart phone. The portable electronic device 12 includes anelectronic-device body 16 and a protection cover 18. Theelectronic-device body 16 can be a device with a processing function,including conventional components applied to a portable computer device,such as a central processing unit and a touch display panel. Theelectronic-device body 16 has a containing space 17. The protectioncover 18 is pivotally connected to a first side S₁ of the containingspace 17 to cover the containing space 17 for providing fixing,protecting, and dustproof functions when the mobile communication device14 is disposed in the containing space 17.

As for the fixing design in which the protection cover 18 is utilized tocover the containing space 17, it utilizes a common engaging design. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1 (but not limited thereto), the protectioncover 18 can have a hook 19, and the electronic-device body 16 can havea corresponding engaging structure 21. Accordingly, when the protectioncover 18 rotates relative to the electronic-device body 16 to cover thecontaining space 17, the protection cover 18 can be fixed onto theelectronic-device body 16 by engagement of the hook 19 and the engagingstructure 21.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a functional block diagram of themobile communication device 14 in FIG. 2. The mobile communicationdevice 14 is selectively contained in the containing space 17. To morespecific, the mobile communication device 14 can be contained in thecontaining space 17 so that the portable computer module 10 can beutilized as a conventional portable computer. On the other hand, themobile communication device 14 can be rotated off the containing space17 to be selectively utilized as an input device of the portableelectronic device 12 when the mobile communication device 14 is parallelto a horizontal surface, or to be utilized as an image capturing deviceof the portable electronic device 12 when the mobile communicationdevice 14 is unparallel to the horizontal surface. Accordingly, a usercan perform input operations (e.g. a paperwork processing operation or acursor controlling operation) of the portable electronic device 12 viathe touch function provided by the mobile communication device 14, orcan simultaneously utilize the image capturing function of the mobilecommunication device 14 and the functions of the portable electronicdevice 12 (e.g. a keyboard simulation function) to perform videooperations of the portable computer module 10 (e.g. holding a videoconference).

The mobile communication device 14 includes a communication-device body20, a sensing unit 22, and an accelerometer 24. The communication-devicebody 20 can be removably and pivotally connected to a second side S₂ ofthe containing space 17 and has a display screen 23. Thecommunication-device body 20 is used for detecting whether to beelectrically connected to the electronic-device body 16. The sensingunit 22 is electrically connected to and disposed on thecommunication-device body 20. The sensing unit 22 can be a light sensoror a hall sensor for detecting whether the protection cover 18 is openwhen the mobile communication-device body 20 is electrically connectedto the electronic-device body 16. The accelerometer 24 is electricallyconnected to and disposed on the communication-device body 20. When thesensing unit 22 detects that the protection cover 18 is open, theaccelerometer 24 is used for detecting whether the communication-devicebody 20 is rotated relative to the electronic-device body 16 to aposition parallel to the horizontal surface (substantially parallel tothe ground surface) to generate a detection result. Accordingly, thecommunication-device body 20 can switch to a touch mode or an imagecapturing mode according to the aforesaid detection result. Theaccelerometer 24 can be a conventional sensing device having a tiltsensing function, such as a gravity sensor, a gyroscope, or thecombination.

As mentioned above, the communication-device body 20 can be removablyand pivotally connected to the second side S₂ of the containing space17. More detailed description for the pivotal connection design of theelectronic-device body 16 and the communication-device body 20 isprovided as follows. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in this embodiment,the portable electronic device 12 can further include a rotating shaft26 and a connecting terminal 28. The rotating shall 26 is pivotallyconnected to the second side S₂ of the containing space 17. In thisembodiment, the rotating shaft 26 can be a conventional pivot structure,such as a hinge. Accordingly, when the communication-device body 20 isrotated relative to the electronic-device body 16 via the rotating shaft26, the rotating shaft 26 can utilize torsion provided by itself toposition an angle of the communication-device body 20 relative to theelectronic-device body 16, so that the portable computer module 10 canhave a stepless angle adjusting function. The connecting terminal 28 isdisposed on the rotating shaft 26 and electrically connected to theelectronic-device body 16. The connecting terminal 28 can be aconventional connecting device, such as a pogo pin, for electricallyconnecting to the communication-device body 20. In such a manner, thecommunication-device body 20 can be electrically connected to theelectronic-device body 16 via the connecting terminal 28 and rotatablerelative to the electronic-device body 16 via the rotating shaft 26 (asshown in FIG. 2).

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a flowchart of a method of integratingthe portable electronic device 12 and the mobile communication device 14according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method includesthe following steps.

Step 400: Start;

Step 402: The communication-device body 20 detects whether to beelectrically connected to the electronic-device body 16; if so, go toStep 404; if not, go to Step 400;

Step 404: The sensing unit 22 detects whether the protection cover 18 isopen; if so, go to Step 406; if not, go to Step 400;

Step 406: The accelerometer 24 detects whether the communication-devicebody 20 is rotated relative to the electronic-device body 16 to aposition parallel to the horizontal surface; if so, go to Step 408; ifnot, go to Step 410;

Step 408: The communication-device body 20 switches to the touch mode;

Step 410: The communication-device body 20 switches to the imagecapturing mode.

The aforesaid steps are described in details as follows. At first, whena user contains the mobile communication device 14 in the containingspace 17 and closes the protection cover 18 to utilize the portableelectronic module 10 as a conventional portable computer, thecommunication-device body 20 can detect whether to be electricallyconnected to the electronic-device body 16 via the connecting terminal(Step 402). Whether the communication-device body 20 is electricallyconnected to the electronic-device body 16 can be determined bydetecting whether pins of the connecting terminal 28 are electricallyconnected to the electronic-device body 16. If the communication-devicebody 20 detects no electrical connection to the electronic-device body16, the portable computer module 10 performs Step 400 and keepsmonitoring the electrical connection condition between thecommunication-device body 20 and the electronic-device body 16.

On the other hand, if the communication-device body 20 detects itselectrical connection to the electronic-device body 16, the sensing unit22 detects whether the protection cover 18 is open (Step 404), todetermine whether the user opens the protection cover 18 to operate themobile communication device 14. As mentioned above, the sensing unit 22can be a light sensor or a hall sensor. That is to say, the sensing unit22 can detect whether the protection cover 18 is open in a light sensingmanner or a magnetic induction manner. For example, if the sensing unit22 is a light sensor, the sensing unit 22 can determine that theprotection cover 18 is in a close state for containing the mobilecommunication device 14 in the containing space 17 when the intensity oflight sensed by the sensing unit 22 is less than a specific value. Onthe contrary, the sensing unit 22 can determine that the protectioncover 18 is in an open state when the intensity of light sensed by thesensing unit 22 is greater than the specific value. As for the relateddescriptions for the light sensor and the hall sensor, they are commonlyseen in the prior art and therefore omitted herein.

Via the said sensing design, if the sensing unit 22 detects thatprotection cover 18 is close, the portable computer module 10 performsStep 400 and keeps utilizing the sensing unit 22 to detect whether theprotection cover 18 is in the close state. To be noted, in thisembodiment, when the communication-device body 20 detects its electricalconnection to the electronic-device body 16 and the sensing unit 22detects that the protection cover 18 is close for containing thecommunication-device body 20 in the containing space 17, the user canoperate the electronic-device body 16 to display an operation imagecorresponding to the communication-device body 20 via a large displayscreen of the electronic-device body 16 instead of the display screen 23of the communication-device body 20, so that the user can operate themobile communication device 14 more conveniently. Furthermore, thecommunication-device body 20 can further switch to a power-saving mode(e.g. turning off the touch function of the communication-device body 20or turning off the display screen 23) for achieving the power-savingpurpose when the sensing unit 22 detects that the protection cover 18 isclose.

On the other hand, if the sensing unit 22 detects that the protectioncover 18 is open, it represents that the user has already opened theprotection cover 18. At this time, the accelerometer 24 detects whetherthe communication-device body 20 is rotated relative to theelectronic-device body 16 to the position parallel to the horizontalsurface (Step 406). To be noted, if the communication-device body 20 isin the power-saving mode, the communication-device body 20 can activatethe display screen 23 after detecting that the protection cover 18 isopen, so that the user can operate the mobile communication device 14conveniently.

When the user rotates the communication-device body 20 to be parallel tothe horizontal surface, the accelerometer 24 can accordingly generate acorresponding detection result, and then the communication-device body20 enters the touch mode (Step 408) according to the detection result.Accordingly, the communication-device body 20 can be utilized as aninput device of the portable electronic device 12 for the user toperform a paperwork inputting operation or a cursor controllingoperation. For improving convenience of the portable computer module 10in use, when the communication-device body 20 is parallel to thehorizontal surface, the protection cover 18 can be further used forsupporting the electronic-device body 16 on a holding surface 25 so thatthe electronic-device body 16 can stand obliquely at a side of thecommunication-device body 20 (as shown in FIG. 5). Thus, the user canfeel like operating a desktop computer or a notebook, so that the usercan operate the portable electronic device 12 (e.g. performing apaperwork inputting operation or a cursor controlling operation) moreconveniently via the touch function provided by the mobile communicationdevice 14.

On the other hand, please refer to FIG. 6, which is a diagram of thecommunication-device body 20 in FIG. 5 rotating to a position unparallelto the horizontal surface. When the user rotates thecommunication-device body 20 to be unparallel to the horizontal surface,the accelerometer 24 can generate a corresponding detection result, andthen the communication-device body 20 enters the image capturing mode(Step 410) according to the detection result. Accordingly, thecommunication-device body 20 can be utilized as an image capturingdevice of the portable electronic device 12. That is, the user cansimultaneously utilize the image capturing function of the mobilecommunication device 14 and the functions of the portable electronicdevice 12 (e.g. a keyboard simulation function) to perform the videooperation of the portable computer module 10 (e.g. holding a videoconference).

To be noted, the portable electronic device 12 is not limited to aportable computer device with a processing function (e.g. a tabletcomputer) mentioned in the aforesaid embodiment. That is, the portableelectronic device 12 can also be a portable docket station without aprocessing function, meaning that the electronic-device body 16 can onlyinclude conventional peripheral components (not including a centralprocessing unit) applied to a portable computer, such as a touch screen.

In this embodiment, when the mobile communication device 14 is installedon the portable electronic device 12 (i.e. the portable docket station),the communication-device body can provide a processing function to forma portable computer device cooperatively with the portable electronicdevice 12. In such a manner, when the communication-device body 20 isparallel to the horizontal surface, the communication-device body 20enters the touch mode accordingly to be utilized as an input device andthen controls the electronic-device body 16 to display an operationimage corresponding to the communication-device body 20 via a largedisplay screen of the electronic-device body 16 instead of the displayscreen 23 of the communication-device body 20, so that the user canoperate the mobile communication device 14 more conveniently.

On the other hand, when the communication-device body 20 is unparallelto the horizontal surface, the communication-device body 20 enters theimage capturing mode accordingly to be utilized as an image capturingdevice. In such a manner, the user can simultaneously utilize the imagecapturing function of the mobile communication device 14 and thefunctions of the portable electronic device 12 (e.g. a keyboardsimulation function) to perform the video operations of the portablecomputer module 10 (e.g. holding a video conference). As for the relateddescription, it can be reasoned according to the aforesaid embodimentand therefore omitted herein.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention utilizes the designin which the mobile communication device is pivotally connected to theportable electronic device and the design in which the mobilecommunication device detects whether to electrically connected to theportable electronic device, whether the protection cover is open, andwhether the mobile communication device is parallel to the horizontalsurface, to control the mobile communication device to enter the touchmode or the image capturing mode.

In such a manner, the mobile communication device provided by thepresent invention can be utilized as an input device when being parallelto the horizontal surface, so that the user can perform the relatedinput operations of the portable electronic device or the mobilecommunication device (e.g. performing a paperwork processing operationor a cursor controlling operation) via the touch function of the mobilecommunication device. On the other hand, the mobile communication devicecan be utilized as an image capturing device when being unparallel tothe horizontal surface, so that the user can simultaneously utilize theimage capturing function of the mobile communication device and thefunctions of the portable electronic device (e.g. a keyboard simulationfunction) to perform the video operations of the portable computermodule (e.g. holding a video conference).

Thus, the portable computer module provided by the present invention canefficiently solve the problem that the functions (e.g. a touch functionor an image capturing function) of the mobile communication device cannot be performed synchronously when the mobile communication device isintegrated into the portable electronic device, so as to greatly improvethe overall performance and operational convenience of the portablecomputer module.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for integrating a mobile communicationdevice and a portable electronic device, the portable electronic devicecomprising an electronic-device body and a protection cover, theprotection cover being pivotally connected to the electronic-device bodyfor containing the mobile communication device cooperatively with theelectronic-device body, the mobile communication device removably androtatably connected to a side of the electronic-device body, the methodcomprising: detecting whether the mobile communication device iselectrically connected to the electronic-device body by the mobilecommunication device; detecting whether the protection cover is open bythe mobile communication device when the mobile communication devicedetects electrical connection of the mobile communication device to theelectronic-device body; and when the protection cover is open, detectingwhether the mobile communication device is rotated relative to theportable electronic device to a first position parallel to a horizontalsurface to generate a detection result by the mobile communicationdevice when the mobile communication device detects that the protectioncover is open; and switching the mobile communication device to a touchmode or an image capturing mode according to the detection resultswitching the mobile communication device to a first operation mode or asecond position switching the mobile communication device to a secondoperation mode.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein switching the mobilecommunication device to the touch mode or the image capturing modeaccording to the detection result the first operation mode is a touchmode, and detecting whether the mobile communication device is rotatedrelative to the portable electronic device to the first positionswitching the mobile communication device to the first operation mode orthe second position switching the mobile communication device to thesecond operation mode comprises: switching the mobile communicationdevice to the touch mode when the mobile communication device detectsrotation of the mobile communication device to the first positionparallel to the a horizontal surface.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinswitching the mobile communication device to the touch mode or the imagecapturing mode according to the detection result the second operationmode is an image capturing mode, and detecting whether the mobilecommunication device is rotated relative to the portable electronicdevice to the first position switching the mobile communication deviceto the first operation mode or the second position switching the mobilecommunication device to the second operation mode comprises: switchingthe mobile communication device to the image capturing mode when themobile communication device detects rotation of the mobile communicationdevice to a the second position unparallel to the a horizontal surface.4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: displaying an operationimage corresponding to the mobile communication device by theelectronic-device body when the mobile communication device detects theelectrical connection of the mobile communication device to theelectronic-device body and detects that the protection cover is closefor covering the mobile communication device in the containing space. 5.The method of claim 1 further comprising: switching the mobilecommunication device to a power saving mode when the mobilecommunication device detects that the protection cover is close forcovering the mobile communication device in the containing space.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device has a displayscreen and the method further comprises: activating the display screenby the mobile communication device when the mobile communication devicedetects that the protection cover is open.
 7. A portable computer modulecomprising: a portable electronic device comprising: anelectronic-device body having a containing space; and a protection coverpivotally connected to a first side of the containing space for coveringthe containing space; and a mobile communication device selectivelycontained in the containing space, the mobile communication devicecomprising: a communication-device body removably and pivotallyconnected to a second side of the containing space for detecting whetherthe communication-device body is electrically connected to theelectronic-device body; a sensing unit electrically connected to anddisposed on the communication-device body for detecting whether theprotection cover is open when the communication-device body iselectrically connected to the electronic-device body; and anaccelerometer electrically connected to and disposed on thecommunication-device body for detecting whether the communication-devicebody is rotated relative to the portable electronic device to a firstposition parallel to a horizontal surface relative to theelectronic-device body to generate a detection result switching themobile communication device to a first operation mode or a secondposition switching the mobile communication device to a second operationmode when the sensing unit detects that the protection cover is open;wherein the mobile communication device switches to a touch mode or animage capturing mode according to the detection result.
 8. The portablecomputer module of claim 7, wherein the first operation mode is a touchmode, and the communication-device body switches to the touch mode whenthe accelerometer detects that the communication-device body is parallelto the a horizontal surface.
 9. The portable computer module of claim 8,wherein the protection cover supports the electronic-device body tostand obliquely at a side of the communication-device body when thecommunication-device body is parallel to the horizontal surface.
 10. Theportable computer module of claim 7, wherein the second operation modeis an image capturing mode, and the communication-device body switchesto the image capturing mode when the accelerometer detects that thecommunication-device body is unparallel to the a horizontal surface. 11.The portable computer module of claim 7, wherein when thecommunication-device body detects that the communication-device body iselectrically connected to the electronic-device body and the sensingunit detects that the protection cover is close for covering thecommunication-device body in the containing space, the electronic-devicebody displays an operation image corresponding to thecommunication-device body.
 12. The portable computer module of claim 8,wherein when the communication-device body detects that thecommunication-device body is electrically connected to theelectronic-device body and the sensing unit detects that the protectioncover is close for covering the communication-device body in thecontaining space, the electronic-device body displays an operation imagecorresponding to the communication-device body.
 13. The portablecomputer module of claim 10, wherein when the communication-device bodydetects that the communication-device body is electrically connected tothe electronic-device body and the sensing unit detects that theprotection cover is close for covering the communication-device body inthe containing space, the electronic-device body displays an operationimage corresponding to the communication-device body.
 14. The portablecomputer module of claim 7, wherein when the sensing unit detects thatthe protection cover is close for covering the communication-device bodyin the containing space, the communication-device body switches to apower saving mode.
 15. The portable computer module of claim 7, whereinthe communication-device body has a display screen, and thecommunication-device body activates the display screen when the sensingunit detects that the protection cover is open.
 16. The portablecomputer module of claim 7, wherein the portable electronic devicefurther comprises: a rotating shaft pivotally connected to the secondside of the containing space; and a connection terminal disposed on therotating shaft and electrically connected to the electronic-device bodyfor electrically connecting to the communication-device body, so as tomake the communication-device body electrically connected to theelectronic-device body and rotatable relative to the electronic-devicebody via the rotating shaft.
 17. The portable computer module of claim8, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises: a rotatingshaft pivotally connected to the second side of the containing space;and a connection terminal disposed on the rotating shaft andelectrically connected to the electronic-device body for electricallyconnecting to the communication-device body, so as to make thecommunication-device body electrically connected to theelectronic-device body and rotatable relative to the electronic-devicebody via the rotating shaft.
 18. The portable computer module of claim10, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises: a rotatingshaft pivotally connected to the second side of the containing space;and a connection terminal disposed on the rotating shaft andelectrically connected to the electronic-device body for electricallyconnecting to the communication-device body, so as to make thecommunication-device body electrically connected to theelectronic-device body and rotatable relative to the electronic-devicebody via the rotating shaft.
 19. The portable computer module of claim7, wherein the portable electronic device is a tablet computer, and themobile communication device is a smart phone.
 20. The portable computermodule of claim 7, wherein the portable electronic device is a portabledocket station, and the mobile communication device is a smart phone.